More than 1,000 people showed up Friday to honor missing balloonist Richard Abruzzo.

"Today was very difficult for the family, but very comforting to see all of Richard's friends here," brother Louis Abruzzo said.

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Richard Abruzzo and Carol-Rymer Davis vanished close to the Italian coast while competing in the Gordon Bennett gas balloon race in late September. One month later, 1,200 supporters showed up, lit candles and then shared their memories of the balloonist who they said lived his dreams.

Abruzzo's wife, Nancy, listened to her husband's college ski coach talk about a fierce competitor who you couldn't help but love.

"Ingenuity, dedication that was all of what Richard was about," said George Brooks, a college ski coach.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson said he really didn't know what to expect from Friday's event, but said Abruzzo's balloon flying it really shook him.

Johnson became good friends with Abruzzo throughout the years. The two even flew in several balloon races together.

"Everybody wants to have a good cry here and everybody really wants to celebrate a life that really was marked with a whole bunch of achievements," Johnson said.

The achievements won't be forgotten, but neither will the balloonist, athlete and family man who lived life to the fullest.

"I wish I had his smile. He just reached out to people, kids, fellow balloonists, everybody with that big smile and he just loved life," Louis Abruzzo said.

Rymer-Davis' husband also attended the ceremony. Rymer-Davis lived in Albuquerque for years but was residing in Colorado.